Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-06
4 MIDDLE AGED CHERUB.

Use, virgin ~ they came from the cutler ;
forge. lie ready Ia my hand; but my hand
shrinkS from the last, the desperate
stroke At -. health, money, wife.
children Though against them well may
bear a grudgrl, even, | may say, honor
and an uublcmShed reputation. are not
things to be abandoned without a strug-
gle. Yet life and all the rest are embit-
tered IL me by one misfortune which no
efforts have enabled me to overcome no
stoicSm has availed to disregard; and, had
the courage, priest as l am, | would
strike the blow, and suicide should drop
the merciful curtain upon the pitiful farce
of my existence. Let me see if penning
the tale of my woes will nerve my hand
10 end them.
Yet the tale will but move the world Ia
laughter Ny wife has long pooh-poohed
me and urged me mot TO think of it, as
well urge the eel not TO think of skinning
or the fugitive cur 10 disregard the kettle
tied TO his tail. But then she is supported
by the courage and a good deal of the ap
pearance of a grenadier.
Old friends speak sympathiZingly and
say. We'll, old fellow, wish hal half
your complaint. But some men never
are satisfied" All! know their tones
of regret and envy are mere mockery
safe in the possession Of gray hairs and
equity toes they know they can trifle with
me as they please.
1 can scarcely bear to divulge my secret
to those who do not know me and it, but
must. Ny curse is this. /, man of
-. husband. the father Of a great lout
Of a lad and a gawky girl, priest in
holy orders and a bachelor of divinity.
have the face. the figure, the voice, and
the carriage OF "A cherry checked boy Of
IA. All. You may laugh, but none can
know what | endure till they have tried
IL just consider. l look like a nice,
healthy. lower school boy. My cheeks are
pink and smooth; my hair is yellow and
rough and plenty Of it: my waist is slim.
niy back is fiat; walk with a springy
step: al times involuntarily | run. and
believe | still could beat any alto ia my
old school choir
Ii was not till after left Oxford that
became conscious of my affection At
college many Of us do like boys. and act
like boys too My post was naturally the
pleasant one Of cox of the college eight. and
although raftmen and bargees guffawed
privily when | came down to the boats
and little boys from the towpath mimicked
my shrill, imperative voice, still | was
petted and popular, as cox is by virtue Of
his Office, and | was happy. They carried
me shoulder high round the quad and
placed me on the table at wines 10 pipe
my treble songs, and, if | felt like a tit
mouse beside the giants of my crew, was
but fulfilling my steerSman's mission.
Those. indeed. We're golden days But
from the time l announced a determina-
tion TO take orders, trouble grew up
hay 1nItht tal
should have enough influence clergy
men, to whom | applied for title, seemed
skeptical Of my Seriousness and when
called on the examining chaplain to the
bishop Of my choice and explained the oh
ject Of my visit the good man looked puz-
zled. but smiled kindly and asked with "A
surtout point de zele air if didn't think
had better not have troubled to come to
him till was within more measurable
distance of the earliest age for ordination.
And at that moment was "a
At that time, indeed, l knew looked
bovish; but then often felt boyish and
not being vain peacock, i gave little
critical study TO my appearance; vanity Is
not my besetting sin, and in those days /
did not stare gloomily in the glass for the
purpose of detecting some hope, some
promise Of age, or, indeed, for any
other purpose. Though below the
middle height, I am not a dwarf, and
as yet the awful conviction of the truth
had not forced Itself upon me. / did not
know how childlike front l presented.
At last, however, | obtained a curacy in 4
parish, where we had a fine old church, a
considerable choir, and several other
curates. and, finding my vicar kindly, and
his wife positively affectiOnate, | settled!
down 10 my work and looked forward IL
a happy and beneficent life Within n
week my hopes We're crushed. There
bcfell me calamity which has left me
ever since blighted and dispirited being
had but just been ordained, and was
very full Of the solemnity and the dignity
of nv new position. We had just finished
a wedding in humble life. and about hall
an hour was TO elapse before mathis.
lad taken subordinate part in indis
solubly yoking bashful country lass
To- a very bemuscd looking gaby from the
plow tail. and was waiting in my
surplice for the service in which | was 81
10 speak. to make first appearance. =
The weather was hot, and laid aside my
stole and hood for while; for | was a
proud and careful Of their untarnished
rustliug glory a. "A mother of her first
bo,n; and | stood at the yestry door chat
ting 10 my vicar and two of my fellow
cur;ItcS who Were making their mystical
toilet within On sudden | heard very
sweet girls Voice saying, "Oh, do wlst
| could make out this window-ther,
should I've some one TO explain it, ant
locking down the church i saw one stou
elderly lady and two slim young ones eN
smining "A window of Ananias and Sapphi
IA. looked again at the girls, and oh
ioy, recognized two fair Americans wh'
had appeared in Oxford during my las
term there and had been the objects Of IN!
pasSionate and heart stricken devotion
Never had | forgotten them. CajOlerl
and intrigue had once brought Inc int
the same room with them, but before
could find an opportunity for an introduc
tiou they were gone. and | saw them N
more Now was my time. Straight
rrfpped down the steps OF the & ancel anC
presented myself before them liEe Il knigh
errant. aS | thought, coming TO deliver
distressed maiden. You would like I,
know what the subject of the window is;'
asked blandly. 1t is very old glas
and very quaint; allow me to explain il.
and | sailed flucntly Oh. Dear me,
cried the elder lady presently, when
came TO a pause how interesting, Wha
very happy idea TO have the churcI
shown in this way, and what very mic
choristers there are here: SO intelligen
and well behaved | thought this rathe
irrelevant and was puzzled, but al
praise of the chur h just then wa
honey to me. and | said complacently
Yes. the choir is very good; We take grea
pains, and great atte Ition is paid TO dis
cinline.' Why the N"unV LADIES shoEl